Testing device in a low-voltage, low-frequency beautifying apparatus for detecting lead cord discontinuities

ABSTRACT

A disconnection checker for lead cords used in low-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying devices. In the upper face of a main body of the beautifying device is a terminal for checking whether each lead cord is disconnected or not when a jack of the lead cord is inserted therein. In the vicinity of the terminal for checking disconnection, an LED lamp lights when the lead cord is not disconnected. Thus, by using the disconnection checker, use of disconnected lead cords is prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is a 371 of PCT/JP95/01869 filed Sep. 20, 1995.

This invention relates to a disconnection checker for checkingdisconnection of lead cords in low-voltage output type low-frequencybeautifying apparatuses whose output is about 1 mA, 6-9V.

BACKGROUND ART

Since the output voltages of low-frequency beautifying apparatusesgenerally used are high, the voltage can be felt by the body bycontacting the lead to skin. If the skin feels the voltage, it isreadily known that the lead cord is not disconnected. When the outputvoltage is abnormal, the circuit is automatically opened by fusion of afuse or the like, thereby safety is assured.

However, with the conventional low-voltage output type low-frequencybeautifying apparatuses whose output is about 1 mA, 6-9V, since theoutput voltage from the beautifying apparatus is low, it cannot be knownfrom the feeling of the body whether a low-frequency current isconducted through the human body. Further, the beautifying apparatusesare not provided with a checker for checking disconnection of leadcords.

Thus, the conventional low-voltage output type low-frequency beautifyingapparatuses whose output is about 1 mA, 6-9V have a drawback in that itis impossible to confirm disconnection of lead cords.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentionedproblem in the prior art and to provide a disconnection checker forchecking disconnection of lead cords in low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatuses, by which disconnection of leadcords can easily be checked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned objectis attained by providing a disconnection checker in low-voltage outputtype low-frequency beautifying apparatuses which carry outbeautification by attaching two leads to a human body, which leads areconnected to a lead cord, and passing low-voltage and low-frequencycurrent through the leads, said disconnection checker comprising aterminal for checking disconnection arranged in a main body of saidlow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus, andindicator means connected to said terminal for checking disconnection,wherein whether the lead cord is disconnected or not is known from anindication of said indicator means when a jack of said lead cord isinserted into said terminal for checking disconnection and said twoleads connected to said lead cord are short-circuited.

With this constitution according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, when the jack is inserted into the terminal for checkingdisconnection and the two leads are contacted each other, which leadsare connected to a lead cord, a circuit driving the indicator meansconnected to the terminal for checking disconnection is closed such thatthe indicator means is operated, or the above-mentioned circuit is notclosed so that the indicator means remains non-operated.

According to the above-mentioned first aspect of the present invention,whether the lead cord is disconnected or not can be easily, quickly andsurely checked by merely inserting a jack of the lead cord into aterminal for checking disconnection provided in a main body of thelow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus,short-circuiting the two leads and confirming the indication from theindicator means. Therefore, the lead cords which are not disconnectedcan be used as they are, and it is ordered that the lead cords which aredisconnected be replaced. Thus, by using the disconnection checker,erroneous use of a disconnected lead cord is prevented, so that the useof lead cords which are not disconnected is assured for passinglow-frequency electric current through a human body, even with alow-voltage type low-frequency beautifying apparatus.

The second aspect of the present invention provides a disconnectionchecker in low-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatuseswhich carry out beautification by attaching two leads to human body,which leads are connected to a lead cord, and passing low-voltage andlow-frequency current through the leads, said disconnection checkercomprising a circuit for checking disconnection having a power sourceand indicator means, which circuit for checking disconnection is formedin a low-frequency current-supplying circuit of said low-voltage outputtype low-frequency beautifying apparatus through a change-over switch,wherein whether the lead cord is disconnected or not is known fromindication of said indicator means when said change-over switch isswitched to said circuit for checking disconnection and said two leadsconnected to said lead cord are short-circuited.

With this constitution according to the second aspect of the presentinvention, when the change-over switch is switched to the circuit forchecking disconnection and the two leads are contacted each other, whichleads are connected to a lead cord, the circuit for checkingdisconnection driving the indicator means is closed such that theindicator means is operated, or the above-mentioned circuit is notclosed so that the indicator means remains non-operated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, whether thelead cord is disconnected or not can be easily, quickly and surelychecked by merely switching the change-over switch to the disconnectionchecking circuit, short-circuiting the two leads and confirming theindication from the indicator means. Especially, with the constitutionaccording to the second aspect of the present invention, unlike thefirst aspect of the present invention, whether the respective lead cordis disconnected or not can be checked without inserting a jack of thelead cord into a terminal for checking disconnection, which is veryconvenient. Thus, by using the disconnection checker, to erroneously usea disconnected lead cord is prevented, so that it is assured to use leadcords which are not disconnected for passing low-frequency electriccurrent through human body, even with a low-voltage type low-frequencybeautifying apparatus.

In the first and second aspects of the present invention, light-emittingdevices such as LED lamps, sound-making devices such as buzzers,electric current-measuring devices such as ampere meters may be employedas the indicator means. In cases where an LED lamp is employed, the LEDlamp is lighted when the lead cord is not disconnected, and is notlighted if the lead cord is disconnected. In cases where a buzzer isemployed, the buzzer sounds when the lead cord is not disconnected, anddoes not sound if the lead cord is disconnected. In cases where anampere meter is employed, the hand of the ampere meter moves when thelead cord is not disconnected, and does not move if the lead cord isdisconnected. By such indicator means, whether the lead cord isdisconnected or not can be easily known with eyes or ears. Theseindicator means may be employed in combination.

Thus, by using the disconnection checker according to the presentinvention, whether the lead cord is disconnected or not can be checkedbefore performing the beautifying operation, so that to erroneously usea disconnected lead cord is prevented. Therefore, it is assured thatlow-frequency current is passed through human body to performlow-frequency beautifying operation, even with a low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entirety of an embodiment of thedisconnection checker of lead cords in low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatuses, according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a basic circuit of thedisconnection checker shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the entirety of another embodiment of thedisconnection checker of lead cords in low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatuses, according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an embodiment of a basic circuit of thedisconnection checker shown in FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in more detail referring tothe appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a preferred position of arranging adisconnection checker of lead cords in a box type low-voltage outputtype low-frequency beautifying apparatus. In the front face of a mainbody 1 of the low-voltage output type low-frequency beautifyingapparatus, a plurality of terminals 4 into which a jack 3 of each of aplurality of lead cords 2 corresponding to a prescribed sites of humanbody to be beautified are formed.

On the other hand, in the upper face of the main body 1 of thelow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus, a terminal5 for checking disconnection of the lead cords 2 is provided, into whichthe jack 3 of the lead cords 2 is inserted. Further, in the vicinity ofthe terminal 5 for checking disconnection, an indicator 6, which istriggered when the lead cords are not disconnected, is provided.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a basic circuit of the disconnectionchecker of lead cords. In the circuit 11 for checking disconnection, theterminal 5 for checking disconnection and the indicator 6 are connectedin series to a power source 12, and the terminal 5 for checkingdisconnection alone is opened.

When each lead cord 2 is checked for disconnection, the jack 3 of thelead cord 2 to be checked is inserted into the terminal 5 for checkingdisconnection and the two leads 7, 7 formed at the tip of the lead cord2 are short-circuited. If the lead cord 2 is not disconnected, thedisconnection-checking circuit 11 is closed so as to trigger indicator6, thereby it can readily be known that the checked lead cord 2 is notdisconnected.

In contrast, if the lead cord 2 is disconnected, thedisconnection-checking circuit 11 is not closed even when the two leads7, 7 formed at the tip of the lead cord 2 are short-circuited, so thatindicator 6 is not triggered, thereby it can be known that the checkedlead cord 2 is disconnected.

It should be noted that the structures of the jack 3 and the terminal 5for checking disconnection are not restricted to those shown in FIG. 2,and those having appropriate structures may be employed. As the powersource, ordinary dry cells may be used. In case of using a commercial ACpower, the power source 12 may be provided with the function oftransformer or rectifier. Further, a switch for opening and closing thedisconnection-checking circuit 11 may be provided so as to pass electriccurrent through the disconnection-checking circuit only when the leadcord 2 is checked for disconnection.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the disconnectionchecker of lead cords in a box type low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatus. In the front face of a main body 21of the low-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus, aplurality of terminals 24 into which a jack 23 of each of a plurality oflead cords 22 corresponding to a prescribed sites of human body to bebeautified are formed, as in the first embodiment described above.

On the upper face of the main body 21 of the low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatus, a change-over switch 25 used whenchecking disconnection of each of the lead cords 22, and an indicator 26which is triggered when the lead cord 22 is not disconnected areprovided.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a circuit of the disconnection checker oflead cords in a box type low-voltage output type low-frequencybeautifying apparatus. This circuit 31 for checking disconnection isconnected, via the change-over switch 25, to a low-frequencycurrent-supplying circuit 32 which supplies prescribed low-frequencyelectric current to each of the lead cords 22 via each lead 24 and eachjack 23. That is, in the line 34 which connects the low-frequencycurrent supply source 33 and the plurality of leads 24, a power source35 and the above-mentioned indicator 26 are provided via the change-overswitch 25. Thus, when the change-over switch 25 is switched to the sideof the disconnection-checking circuit 31, the power source 35, indicator26 and each of the lead cords 22 are connected in series.

When each lead cord 22 is checked for disconnection, the change-overswitch 25 is switched to the side of the disconnection-checking circuit31, and leads 27, 27 of an optional lead cord 22 are short-circuitedwithout short-circuiting the leads of other lead cords 22. If the leadcord 22 is not disconnected, the disconnection-checking circuit 31 whichtriggers indicator 26 is closed. Therefore, by triggering indicator 26,it is known that the tested lead cord 22 is not disconnected. When theleads 27, 27 of the respective lead cords 22 are short-circuitedsequentially, the indicator 26 is triggered respectively, if therespective tested lead cord 22 is not disconnected.

If the lead cord 22 is disconnected, the disconnection-checking circuit31 which triggers indicator 26 is not closed even when the two leads 27,27 formed at the tip of the lead cord 22 are short-circuited, so thatindicator 26 is not triggered. By this, it is known that the lead cord22 is disconnected.

In the preferred, embodiment, an LED lamp is used as the indicator 26.

However, in the present invention, other light-emitting devices,sound-making devices such as buzzers, electric current-measuring devicessuch as ampere meters may be employed in place of an LED lamp.

When a buzzer is employed, whether the lead cord 22 is disconnected ornot can be known from whether the buzzer makes sound or not. When anampere meter is employed, whether the lead cord 22 is disconnected ornot can be known from the movement of the hand of the ampere meter.These indicator means may be used in combination. Although it ispreferred to arrange the indicator 6, 26, on the upper face of thelow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus when theapparatus is relatively small because of ease of watching, the locationat which the indicator is arranged is not restricted and other locationswhich are easy to watch, such as the front face of the apparatus, may beselected depending on the shape and size of the main body 1 of thebeautifying apparatus, the location at which the beautifying apparatusis placed, and so on.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

As described above, the disconnection checker of lead cords inlow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus according tothe present invention is useful for checking disconnection of a leadcord in advance of the beautification operation. The disconnectionchecker according to the present invention is especially suited forlow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatuses whoseoutput is about 1 mA and 6-9V.

I claim:
 1. A disconnection checker of lead cords in low-voltage outputtype low-frequency beautifying apparatuses which carry outbeautification by attaching two leads to a human body, which leads areconnected to a lead cord, and passing low-voltage and low-frequencycurrent through the leads, said disconnection checker comprising:aterminal for checking disconnection arranged in a main body of saidlow-voltage output type low-frequency beautifying apparatus; a powersource for supplying power to said terminal; and indicator meansconnected to said terminal for indicating disconnection, wherein whetherthe lead cord is disconnected or not is known from indication of saidindicator means when a jack of said lead cord is inserted into saidterminal for checking disconnection and said two leads connected to saidlead cord are short-circuited.
 2. The disconnection checker according toclaim 1, wherein said indicator means is a light-emitting device.
 3. Thedisconnection checker according to claim 1, wherein said indicator meansis a sound-making device.
 4. The disconnection checker according toclaim 1, wherein said indicator means is a device for measuring electriccurrent.
 5. A lead cord disconnection testing device for indicating whena lead cord has a discontinuity in a low-voltage output typelow-frequency beautifying apparatus which performs beautification byattaching two leads stemming from one end of the lead cord to a humanbody and passing low-voltage and low-frequency current through theleads, said lead cord disconnection testing device comprising:a terminalfor receiving one end of the lead cord; a power source for supplyingpower to said terminal; and indicator means for indicating, during atesting mode, whether the lead cord has a discontinuity based on whetheror not the power supplied to said terminal reaches said indicator means;and a change-over switch which, during the testing mode, is switched ONto provide a connection between said power source and said terminal toenable lead cord disconnection testing, said two leads stemming fromsaid lead cord being short-circuited during the testing mode.
 6. Thelead cord disconnection testing device according to claim 5, whereinsaid indicator means is a light-emitting device.
 7. The lead corddisconnection testing device according to claim 5, wherein saidindicator means is a sound-making device.
 8. The lead cord disconnectiontesting device according to claim 5, wherein said indicator means is adevice for measuring electric current.
 9. A lead cord discontinuitytesting device for indicating when a lead cord has a discontinuity, thelead cord having a jack at one end which allows connection of the leadcord to an electrical device and two leads stemming from the other endof the lead cord, the two leads being short-circuited during a testingmode, said lead cord discontinuity testing device comprising;an inputterminal in which the lead cord jack is inserted to connect the leadcord to said terminal; a power source for supplying power to said inputterminal; an indicator, connected to said input terminal, said indicatorreceiving power from said power source via said input terminal when thelead cord coupled to said input terminal does not have a discontinuity,and not receiving power from said power source via said input terminalwhen the lead cord coupled to said input terminal has a discontinuity.10. The lead cord discontinuity testing device of claim 9, wherein saidpower source, said input terminal, and said indicator are connected inseries so that, when the lead cord coupled to said input terminal doesnot have a discontinuity, a closed loop is formed so that current flowsfrom said power source through said terminal, to said indicator.
 11. Thelead cord discontinuity testing device of claim 9, wherein theelectrical device is a beautifying device, said input terminal islocated on the face of said beautifying device, and said power supply ispositioned inside said beautifying device.
 12. The lead corddiscontinuity testing device of claim 11, wherein said indicator is alight-emitting diode positioned on the face of the beautifying device.13. The lead cord discontinuity testing device of claim 9, wherein theelectric device has an operating mode and a testing mode and said inputterminal is used for both the operating mode and the testing mode. 14.The lead cord discontinuity testing device of claim 13, furthercomprising:a change-over switch which is switched ON during the testingmode to connect said power supply and said input terminal and isswitched OFF during an operating mode to connect an operating mode powersource to said input terminal.
 15. The lead cord discontinuity testingdevice of claim 13, wherein said electrical device is a beautifyingapparatus.
 16. The lead cord discontinuity testing device of claim 15,further comprising:a change-over switch which is switched ON during thetesting mode to connect said power supply and said input terminal and isswitched OFF during an operating mode to connect a beautificationtreatment power source to said input terminal.